Flat-coated Retriever - Flat-coated Retriever

Flat-coated Retriever Temperament

Spirited, lively, and full of energy, the Flat-coated Retriever is a playful soul that loved plenty of exercise and activity, and thrives on the company and attention of his owners. This is an outgoing breed that is keen, enthusiastic, and very eager to please. The cheerful, sweet nature of the Flat-coated Retriever makes him a wonderful pet and companion, and they have high intelligence and obedience levels, are attentive, and like to put one hundred percent into everything that they do. It is important not to take on a Flat-coated Retriever if you do not have the time to commit to a pet, as these dogs need physical and mental stimulation and plenty of attention in order to alleviate boredom and reduce the risk of destructive behavior such as chewing.

The Flat-coated Retriever gets along well with children, but his high energy and his size could prove a problem around very small kids. He also gets along with other animals, but like children care should be taken around smaller animals, as this breed seems to bound around with limitless energy and tends to be more powerful than he realizes. This is a sociable breed and will also get along well with strangers in most cases. One thing to watch out for with the Flat-coated Retriever is that he loves to jump around and chew, two traits that will need to be controlled through appropriate outlet, such as plenty of exercise to enable him to burn up some of that energy, and suitable toys to enable him to chew to his heart's content without damaging your valuables!
Flat-coated Retriever Appearance

The Flat-coated Retriever is a large dog, and has a strong, powerful, and sturdy build. This dog always looks eager and ready for action, and with his high energy levels usually is always ready for fun, games, and exercise. His coat is dense, flat, and medium in length, with texture that can vary from fine to medium. The coloring of the coat is solid black or solid liver. The Flat-coated Retriever weighs in at 60-75 pounds. Females are around 22-23 inches in height, and males are around 23-25 inches.
Flat-coated Retriever Grooming

The Flat-coated Retriever is a medium shedder, but can shed more heavily at certain times of the year, which means that he is not ideally suited to those with allergies. The grooming requirements for this breed are not overly demanding, and brushing will be required twice weekly to keep the coat in good condition and avoid matting, although this will need to be increased when he is shedding heavily. You should also check that the inside ears are clean and dry to avoid infections and for hygiene reasons.
Flat-coated Retriever Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The Flat-coated Retriever has a life expectancy of around 8-10 years, which is relatively short compared to some other breeds. There are a number of health problems and disorders that are linked to this breed, and this includes luxating patella, cataracts, PRA, HD, cancer, thyroid problems, and entropion. The parents of the Flat-coated Retriever puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.
Flat-coated Retriever History

The Flat-coated Retriever originates from Great Britain, and was bred as a hunter as well as a water retriever. Once one of the most popular variations of retriever, these dogs were once known as wavy coated retrievers. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1915.

# AKANA
# SizeLarge
# Ease of trainingHigh
# GroomingLow/Medium
# SheddingMedium (seasonal)
# Exercise neededLong walk and a run daily
# Energy levelMedium/High
# ProtectionCan make an effective watchdog
# Good with childrenYes
# Health clearancesOFA, CERF
# Popularity100/155